Illinois Fan Club offers relief for heat

Tuesday

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn was standing under a large shade tree Tuesday as he announced the kickoff of a statewide program offering free fans to seniors and people with disabilities.

“We all know that, in Illinois, it can get pretty hot in the summer,” Quinn said. “We don’t want anybody, particularly vulnerable people, senior citizens, children and people who have particular health ailments, to be hurt by summer heat..”

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn was standing under a large shade tree Tuesday as he announced the kickoff of a statewide program offering free fans to seniors and people with disabilities.

“We all know that, in Illinois, it can get pretty hot in the summer,” Quinn said. “We don’t want anybody, particularly vulnerable people, senior citizens, children and people who have particular health ailments, to be hurt by summer heat..”

The program, called the Illinois Fan Club, is the result of a partnership between the Illinois Community Action Association, Quinn, and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Illinois Fan Club this year received $10,000 from Quinn’s office and another $10,000 from Illinois Healthcare and Family Services. The money is expected to buy about 1,666 fans.

Tuesday’s announcement was held in in front of John Thompson’s home in the 1000 block of South 16th Street in Springfield.

Thompson received a grant from Sangamon County about six months ago to make his home more energy efficient, and county officials asked if he would host Tuesday’s event. Thompson agreed, but he didn’t plan to keep the two fans he was given.

“I’m a little more fortunate than maybe some others, so the fans they gave me, I’ll be giving them to people who can use them.”

Sharmin Doering, executive director of Sangamon County Community Resources, said her agency will be distributing the fans in Sangamon County. Eligibility for the fans is based on financial and health needs.

“In Sangamon County, there is poverty, and I think lot of poverty is unseen. Therefore, we are trying to get the word out about the availability of fans so we are ahead of the ballgame, and are able to get the fans to people before problems occur,” Doering said.

Doering said that in addition to the fan program, her office will also be running a summer cooling program that will give qualified people a lump sum of $150 for cooling costs.

The first opportunity to schedule an appointment for the program is July 9. The office will schedule appointments by phone only on July 9 and July 16. People can call the office any time for information on the free fans. The office can be reached at 535-3120.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.